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Epichorista emphanes

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Epichorista emphanes
Female holotype specimen for synonym Epichorista candida.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Epichorista
Species:
E. emphanes
Binomial name
Epichorista emphanes
(Meyrick, 1901)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Proselena emphanes Meyrick, 1901
  • Harmologa achrosta Meyrick, 1901
  • Harmologa epicura Meyrick, 1911
  • Epichorista theatralis Philpott, 1918
  • Epichorista candida Clarke, 1926

Epichorista emphanes, the lesser beech leafroller,[3] is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae.[4] It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1901. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native beech forests. Larvae feed on the emerging leaves and blossoms of trees in the genus Nothofagus, including Nothofagus mensiesii. The larvae are very active, fastening the leaves together with silk and living between them. The larvae of E. emphanes themselves play larval host to species of parasitic hymenoptera. When formed the pupa is enclosed between two joined beech leaves. Adults are on the wing commonly from November until February. They are day flying and are particularly active in hot sunshine, inhabiting open glades or flying amongst beech trees.

The male and female of this species are different in appearance and the females are also highly variable in appearance. This difference and variability had lead this species to be described by taxonomists on multiple occasions.

Taxonomy

[edit]

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1901 and named Proselena emphanes.[5] Later in the same publication Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named this moth Harmologa achrosta.[5] Meyrick described the male of this species in 1911 under the name E. emphanes,[6] and in a later 1911 publication, confirmed the placement of this species in Epichorista.[7] Also in 1911, again thinking he was describing a new species, Meyrick named this moth Harmologa epicura.[8] Meyrick then synonymised this name with Harmologa achrosta.[9] In 1918 Alfred Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named this moth Epichorista theatralis.[10] In 1923 both Epichorista theatralis and Harmologa achrosta were synonymised with Epichorista emphanes.[11][12] George Hudson had shown that Harmologa achrosta represented the male of E. emphanes.[12] Meyrick also confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Epichorista.[12] In 1926 Charles E. Clarke, again thinking he was describing a new species, named this moth Epichorista candida.[13] In 1928 Alfred Philpott also discussed and illustrated the male genitalia of this species.[14]

Hudson synonymised Epichorista candida with Epichorista emphanes and went on to discuss and illustrate this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[15] In 1939 Hudson described the larva of E. emphanes.[16] This species is regarded as being taxonomically unresolved as it likely belongs to another genus.[1] It is therefore also known as Epichorista (s.l.) emphanes.[4] The female holotype specimen was collected by George Hudson at Mount Peel resting on snow at 5400 ft.[2] John S. Dugdale states the holotype specimen for Proselena emphanes is not held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Description

[edit]
Living specimen.

Meyrick described the adult female of this species as follows:

♀. 14mm. Head and thorax deep ferruginous. Abdomen dark grey. Forewings elongate-oblong, costa moderately arched anteriorly, apex obtuse, termen nearly straight, vertical, rounded beneath ; deep ferruginous, irregularly strewn with reddish-ochreous ; space between basal patch and central fascia forming an oblique band glossed with ashy-purplish ; central fascia edged posteriorly by an oblique white bar from costa, not reaching half across wing, beyond which is a triangular ochreous-yellow costal spot; a purplish-leaden-metallic streak before tornus, reaching half across wing, and a similar sub- terminal streak from costa to tornus: cilia ferruginous, with a purplish basal line, becoming yellow-whitish towards tips beneath apex. Hindwings dark fuscous, rather lighter towards base.[5]

Meyrick described the adult male of this species as follows:

♂. 13 mm. Antennal ciliations 1+1⁄2. Forewings without costal fold ; deep ferruginous, crossed by numerous oblique irregular series of very small subconfluent purplish-leaden-grey spots, without defined markings, but central fascia and costal patch sometimes indicated on costa. Hindwings blackish.[6]

Meyrick pointed out that the male of the species differs considerably in appearance from the female of the species.[6] Also, the adult females are highly variable in appearance.[15] Hudson states that there is considerable variation in the brilliancy of the general colouring as well as in the extent and intensity of the silvery-white markings of the adult moths.[15] Sometimes the reddish-brown ground colour of the fore-wings is replaced by dark grey. He goes on to state that generally speaking specimens from the North Island have the fore-wings considerably brighter and redder, the hind-wings darker, and the white costal marking seems to be often absent.[15] One form has the whole of the median area of fore-wings greyish-cream colour, traversed by two ochreous-yellow bands.[15]

Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:

The larva of Epichorista emphases, which feeds on Nothofagus menziesi, is about 1⁄2 inch in length; dull reddish-brown above, yellowish beneath; a broad yellow lateral line and ridge; head bright reddish-brown; segment 2 with very pronounced dark brown horny dorsal plate; segments 3 and 4 with six yellow dots rest of segments with eight yellow dots, except terminal segment which has no dots.[16]

Illustrations of Epichorista emphanes
  • Male
    Male
  • Female variety
    Female variety
  • Female variety
    Female variety
  • Female variety
    Female variety

Distribution

[edit]

E. emphanes is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It is found on the North and South Islands at a wide range of altitudes.[15] Hudson states specimens can be found at the upper limit of native beech forest growth.[15]

Habitat and hosts

[edit]
Larval host L. menziesii.

This species inhabits native beech forests.[15] Adults can be found frequenting open glades in those forests or alternatively flying amongst the tops of beech trees.[15][3] The larvae feed on the blossoms and newly emerged leaves of native beech trees.[3] They have been recorded feeding on species in the genus Nothofagus including Nothofagus menziesii.[17][16]

Behaviour

[edit]

The larva is very active, fastening the leaves together with silk and living between them.[16] The pupa is enclosed between two joined leaves.[16] Adults of this species are on the wing commonly from November until February.[15] They are day flying and are particularly active in hot sunshine.[3][15]

Enemies

[edit]

The larvae of this moth are larval hosts for species of parasitic hymenoptera.[18]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epichorista emphanes.
Wikispecies has information related to Epichorista emphanes.
  1. ^ a b c "Epichorista emphanes (Meyrick, 1901)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2025. Archived from the original on 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  2. ^ a b c Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 122. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  3. ^ a b c d Andrew Crowe (2017). Which New Zealand insect?. Auckland: Penguin Books. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9. OL 3731007M. Wikidata Q105622564.
  4. ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  5. ^ a b c Edward Meyrick (December 1901). "XVII. Descriptions of New Lepidoptera from New Zealand". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 49 (4): 571–572. doi:10.1111/J.1365-2311.1901.TB01373.X. ISSN 0035-8894. Wikidata Q56158899 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ a b c E. Meyrick (1 July 1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 73. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q58200989 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Edward Meyrick (1 July 1911). "A Revision of the Classification of New Zealand Tortricina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 83. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q111014011 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  8. ^ Edward Meyrick (1 July 1911). "A Revision of the Classification of New Zealand Tortricina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 86. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q111014011.
  9. ^ E. Meyrick (1 July 1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 74. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q58200989 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  10. ^ Alfred Philpott (1918). "Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute (in English and English). 50: 1918. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q109591818 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  11. ^ Alfred Philpott (14 December 1923), Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera, vol. 54, p. 150, Wikidata Q109354500
  12. ^ a b c Edward Meyrick (1923). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 54: 163. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63102493 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  13. ^ Charles Edwin Clarke (12 July 1926). "New species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 56: 419. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63101109.
  14. ^ Alfred Philpott (1928). "The male genitalia of the New Zealand Tortricidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 59: 443–468. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q133008549.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 238, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286 – via Biodiversity Heritage LibraryPublic Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ^ a b c d e George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, pp. 434–435, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935 – via Biodiversity Heritage LibraryPublic Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  17. ^ Milligan, R.H. 1974: Insects damaging beech (Nothofagus) forests. Proceedings of the New Zealand Ecological Society: 21:32-40
  18. ^ G. J. Kerrich; C. M. Yoshimoto (1964). "Insects of Campbell Island. Hymenoptera: Eulophidae". Pacific Insects Monographs. 7: 501–503. ISSN 0078-7515. Wikidata Q133208127.
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